Bermuda’s first international stepping showcase, ‘Stomp on the Beach’ — and first beach party of the year — takes place tomorrow evening at Snorkel Park in Dockyard.

Hosted by Fusion Promotions, the event will feature three teams of between six and eight members each from the US and Canada, as well as international Tagg Team DJs from California, and local DJs OB1, D-Nice, Shock ‘n’ Lust, and Black Starr.

The event, which begins at 9 p.m. and ends at 3 a.m., has been timed to coincide with a regional retreat now underway here hosted by the Epsilon Theta Lambda Chapter (Bermuda) of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., which more than 70 fraternity members are attending. In fact, some of them are step show champions in their regions, and will be stepping at tomorrow’s party.

Stepping was created by African American fraternities and sororities during the last century. It is a complex dance form which grew out of a wider African American tradition and aesthetic.

In the African musical and dance traditions, the drum figures prominently, and this is carried over into stepping by the slapping of hands against body parts and stomping feet, both of which are used to produce the complex rhythmic foundation (drumming) for the dance.

Stepping also features synchronised body movements, along with singing, chanting and verbal play.

A step consists of a complete set of choreographed movements, and usually lasts from ten to 15 minutes.

Stepping teams have a ‘step master’ who may be in charge of teaching and/or choreography, and that person takes the lead in a ‘call and response’ interaction with the rest of the team.

Funds from ‘Stomp the Beach’ will be shared between Epsilon Theta Lambda’s many local programmes aimed at young males, and The MLK Foundation.

All Alpha chapters raise funds for their chapter initiatives as well as the MLK (Martin Luther King) memorial. The late Dr. King was a member of the fraternity which, following his death, launched the campaign petitioning the US Government to erect a memorial in his honour.

Once the petition was approved and signed into law, Epsilon Theta Lambda formed the MLK Foundation to raise the $100 million needed to fund the project. To date almost $90 million of that sum has been raised.

“The performers and DJs are hyped, as should be those attending. If anyone is ready to start the summer off right, then ‘Stomp the Beach’ is the place to do it,” a spokesperson for Fusion said.

“We are not looking to profit from the event as we will be putting all monies back into the community.”

[bul] Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door. Advance tickets can be purchased at Stefanel, Secrets, Music World, Dub City and Caesar’s Pharmacy. Attendees must be 18 or older, and ID will be required. Dress is ‘beach chic’. For further information ( 337-1335 or 532-2442.